By james art 
After seven at the beginning of the last quarter and the shots do not fall all night, Tunkhanok chose the best possible time to heat up.
The tigers turned to their shooters, who, although cold, never lost confidence. Bode Lukasavage exploded for 12 of its 14 points in the fourth quarter when Tunkhannock (7-10, 5-4) surpassed Berwick 19-9 in the final frame to take a big win 41-38 in the Wyoming Valley Division II conference Boys Basketball Game on Friday at Tunkhannock Area High School.
After not seeing a shot from the field that passed all night, Lukasavaz opened the fourth quarter, draining 3-indicated from the top of the key, that was all that was necessary. On the next possession of the tigers, Lukasavage drained another long range from exactly the same place to cut Berwick’s lead to one. After stopping the defense and Bervik, he went out to stop the shooter, Lukasavage found a cut of soft Mikels to arrange in the basket, running 8-0 and a lead that Tunkhannock would not give up.
“We got the shots we wanted for the whole game, and they didn’t fall, but it’s just basketball,” said Tunkhannock’s head coach Spencer Lundger. “We tell our shooters to just continue to shoot. I spoke to Bode at half time to take his mind immediately after a little rough first half. After seeing that one went through this, it was a huge impetus for us and really returned the crowd to it in a great atmosphere. “
However, Bervik would not go to bed after the tigers led. Bulldogs had a lot of chance of tie or led in the last three minutes, but Tunhanok’s defense was responsible for the call every time. Colin Gregory- who also scored 13 points- managed to hold Bervik’s leading goal scorer Billy Hanson up to 10 points and caused a huge turnover by under a minute, which sent the crowd to madness.
“Collin, when he wants, is one of the best defenders in the area and he really pressed tonight,” Lundger said. “Bervik hats, they are a great program, but to achieve this victory on our home court, it’s really a big step for us this season.”
Julian Howie led the Bulldogs with 13 points-11, from which he came in the first half, but in the second half, Mickels managed to squeeze himself in the middle and hold Hawai only two free throws throughout the second half.
As the tigers continue their way to a coveted league title, they have three games this week against the Wyoming Seminary, Lake-Leman and MMI Prep. All three will be influential in the League ranking, as Tunkhannock pursues first place in the Wyoming area.
Berwick 41, Tunkhannock 38
Berwick 10 11 8 9- 38
Tunkhannock 10 7 5 19- 41
Berwick: J. Howie 4 4-7 13, B. Hanson 5 0-0 10, B. McCabe 2 0-0 6, C. Guzman 1 2-2 5, N. Marquez 1 0-0 2, K. Hickman 1 0-0 2, S. Bankes 0 0-0 0.
Tunkhannock: B. Lukasavage 4 3-4 14, C. Gregory 5 1-2 13, J. Ransom 2 0-0 5, C. NewSwanger 2 0-0 5, M. Mickels 2 0-0 4, A. Lupinski 0-0 0.
Objectives of the 3 -point field: B. McCabe (BER) 2, J. Howie (Ber), C. Guzman (Ber), B. Lukasavage (Tun) 3, C. Gregory (Tun) 2, J. Ransom (Tun ), C. Newswanger (Tun).
Wyoming Zone 51, Tunkhannock 39
Luke Kopeenni scored 17 points, and Lucas Burakevich scored 14 to help Wuyoming beat Tunkhannock 51-39 in the Boys II basketball game of Wyoming Valley Division II on Wednesday, January 22.
Anthony Deluka added nine points to three 3-censors for Warriors. Mekhi Mickels led tigers with 14 points. Jaden Ransom scored nine in three 3-dance, and Bode Lukasavage ended with six.
Tunkhannock 15 9 12 3- 39
Wyoming Zone 6 23 16 6- 51
Tunkhannock: M. Mickels 4 6-7 14, J. Ransom 3 0-0 9, B. Lukasavage 2 0-0 6, C. Newswanger 2 0-0 4, C. Gregory 1 0-0 3.
Wyoming Zone: L. Kopetchny 6 4-4 17, L. Burakiewicz 5 2-2 14, A. Delucca 3 0-0 9, M. Rusinchak 0 3-3 3, D. Keating 2 2-2 6, S. PEPE 0-0 0, M. Janosky 0 0-0 0, A. Walsh 0 0-0 0, C. WALSH 0-0 0.
3-point field targets: J. Ransom (Tun) 3, B. Lukasavage (Tun) 2, C. Gregory (Tun), A. Delucca (WA) 3, L. Burakiewicz (WA) 2, L. Kopetchny (WA (WA).